Material-transporting device

ABSTRACT

A device for transporting pulverant, finely divided or granular material from a source of such material to an interim materialreceiving loader or chamber having improved valve means for controlling the discharge of one or more materials from the chamber and which valve means can additionally distribute the discharged materials within a subsequent receiving chamber.

[4 1 Jan. 18, 1972 United States Patent Potvin [s41MATERIAL-TRANSPORTING DEVICE 2,459,940 1/1949 l-limmel ....220/22FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Raoul J. Potvin,Franklin, Pa.

8/1961 GreatBritain.................,.........

.m .m r B m. e I G 03 55 99 11 l/ 23 I.

[73] Assignee: Conair, Incorporated, Franklin, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1969 [21] App]. No.: 851,224

Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit [51] lnt.Cl....

[58] Field olSearch ABSTRACT finel T A device for transportingpulverant, y divided or granular References Cited material from a sourceof such material to an interim material- 5 5 5mm 2 2 CH0 3/3 2 2 n T mumS avo D CEG U www 42 11 227 275 253 352 22 ...302/s5Villemure............................. 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures3,090,593 5/1963 Pro............ 3,174,652 3/1965 PATENTEDJANI mEJ635377 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. RcouLJPotvin.

PATENTEDJANWQYZ 3635377 sum 2 [IF 2' INVENTOR. Raougj Po twin,

MATERIAL-TRANSPORTING DEVICE In many industries suchas the plasticindustry it is common practice to transport finely divided, granular orpulverant material from one or more storage bins, through one or morefeedlines having a free end embedded in the respective materials to betransported, to a material-receiving chamber by creating a vacuum in thereceiving chamber so that the resultant airflow through the material andthe one or more feedpipes entrains the material in the airstream flowingto the receiving chamber. The airstream carrying the material entrainedtherein enters the chamber and the entrained material is deposited inthe chamber while the air is withdrawn therefrom by a vacuum pump. Afterthe receiving chamber has been loaded the material deposited therein issubsequently discharged into a material-receiving compartment of anysuitable apparatus such as a hopper for a machine subsequentlyprocessing the material. Heretofore various valve means for controllingthe discharge of the material from such a chamber have been employed;however, in general they have not been entirely satisfactory in thatthey have either permitted vacuum leakage, leakage of material from thechamber, have restricted flow of material from the chamber, or havedischarged material into the hopper such that the material is notdistributed as desired throughout the hopper.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to-provide a new andimproved materialtransporting device for granular or pulverant materialhaving improved means for controlling the discharge of materialtherefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmaterial-transporting device having improved means for controlling thesimultaneous discharge .of a plurality of materials therefrom.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent whenconsidered in conjunction with the description of the followingpreferred embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a material-transporting deviceconstructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention havingportions thereof shown in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the material-transporting device as shownin FIG. 1 with the cover and filter removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a movable partition as utilized in thetransporting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial view showing an alternate valve structure for use inthe transporting device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the movable partition and body of the deviceas shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 55 thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a material-transporting device or loader of thisinvention which, in use, is vertically located and as shown comprises anupper cylindrical body portion 12 having a frustoconical lower bodyportion 14 extending coaxially downwardly therefrom which terminates ina lowermost downwardly extending circular flange portion 15. Other formsof loader 110 can be utilized as desired. Loader 10 is provided with asuitable mounting plate 16 which extends outwardly from the flangeportion to provide means for mounting the loader 10 on amaterial-receiving hopper 17 of a machine such as a plastic moldingmachine. The upperedge of the upper body portion 12 is provided with anencompassing ring-shaped resilient sealing member 22 which resilientlyengages the lower surface of an outwardly flanged cup-shaped filtersupport member 24. Filter support 24 has the cup-shaped portion thereofextending inwardly of the upper body portion 12 with the lower edgethereof being located upwardly adjacent connectors a and 20b extendingradially inwardly of the upper body portion 12. Material is supplied tothe loader 10 through suitable material feedlines 18a and 18b (see US.Pat. No. 3,018.55 the upper ends of which are respectively connected tothe outwardly accessible ends of the connectors 20a and 20b. Filtersupport 24 has a central opening 26 in the lower portion thereof acrosswhich a suitable filter 28 extends. Filter 28 is held in operatingposition by means of a cover 30 having a central depending cylindricalportion 32 which nests within the filter support 24 and has a lowerplate-portion 34 extending across the upper surface of thefilter 28. Thelower plate portion 34 has a plurality of holes 35 therein to permit aproper volume of air to flow therethrough during the operation of thedevice. The outer periphery of the cover 30 extends radially outwardlyand over the upper flange portion of the filter support 24 and isremovably clamped to the upper body portion 12 by any suitable clamping.means (not shown). Cover 30 also supports a suitable air or vacuum pump36 above the lower plate portion 34 for evacuating air from the interiorof the loader 10 which pump 36 is suitably driven by any suitable meanssuch as an electric motor 38 (shown in part) supported by the housing ofpump 36. Although not shown the energization of the electrical motor 38is controlled by means of a member located in the hopper which receivesmaterial from the loader 10 which means senses the demand for materialin the hopper. Inasmuch asall portions of the loader as heretoforedescribed are well. known in the art and have been previously shown anddescribed in various prior art patents such as US. Pat. No. 3,273,943further description thereof is not necessary for understanding of thisinvention by one skilled in the art. Further, if desired, a known remoteor any other suitable vacuum source can be employed rather than theintegral motor and pump described.

The loader of this invention distinguishes over similar purposematerial-transporting devices in that an inverted cupshaped movable'valve member 40 is utilized which controls the discharge of materialfrom the loaderfil0 to the machine hopper with the movement of the valvemember 40 being controlled by means of a selectively actuatable device.

Valve member 40 moves towards and outwardly from the flange portion 15and in order to provide an air seal therebetween the flange portion 15has 'a suitable encompassing resilient ring-shaped gasket 46- suitablysecured thereto which gasket 46 extends circumferentially around theinner surface of the flange portion 15 todcfine the discharge openingfor the loader 10. The lowermost portion of the gasket 46 extends aroundthe lower freeedge of the flange portion 15 and is engaged by anupwardly'facing annular surface portion of the valve member 40 upwardlyadjacent from the lower edge thereof. An uppermost central portion 48 ofvalve member 40 is provided with a central clearance opening toadjustably axially position the valve member 40 upwardly from the freeend of an elongated rod 44 of an elongated air cylinder 42. As shown thelower portion of rod 44 is axially threaded to adjustably receivejamnuts 50 on opposite sides of the uppermost portion 48. Rod 44 isselectively axially reciprocable on the central vertical axis'of theloader 10 by means of the air cylinder 42 which cylinder 42 is closelyreceived in a tubular housing or shield 52 and suitably rigidlysupported with the central axis thereof coincident with the central axisof the loader 10. As shown, the ends of the cylinder 42 are secured toupper and lowe'rair supply and exhaust lines 54 and 56 respectivelywhich'lines 54 and 56 are formed from a suitable material, such as steeltubing or flexible airlines and extend (see FIG. 2) radially through theshield 52, the interior of the loader 10 and through the sidewallthereof to permit the outer free ends thereof to be connected to asuitable source of controlled cylinderflactuating air (not shown).

Although the cylinder 42 can be of any suitable axial length to obtainthe desired axial movement of the rod 44 and valve member 40, the axiallength thereof is preferably, as shown, sufficient to locate the upperend a sufficient distance below the filter 28 such that the upper endthereof provides a platform or base engaged by a releasable lockingmeans for a movable partition or divider 60. Partition60 (see FIG. 3)has an arcuate plate portion 62 extending from upwardly adjacent theupper surface of the valve member 40 (in the closed position) along theentire length of the tube 52 to a location upwardly adjacent the upperend of the cylinder 42 and is of an arcuate contour to slide over and beguided by the outer surface of tube 52. In addition such form of plateportion 62 prevents migration of material around the inner end of thepartition 60. The upper end of cylinder 42 has a suitable spacer orwasher 64 suitably rigidly secured thereto which washer 64 has athreaded stud portion 66 extending upwardly therefrom coaxially with theloader central axis. The upper end of partition 60 has an integralwasher portion 68 having a central clearance opening therein throughwhich the stud portion 66 extends so that the washer portion 68 overliesthe washer 64 and the plate portion 62 abuttingly slidably engages theouter surface of the tube 52. Partition 60 is releasably fixedly securedwith respect to the tube 52 by any suitable means such as the threadedwingnut 69 axially movable along the uppermost portion of the studportion 66.

Partition 60 has a plate portion 70 extending radially outwardly fromthe arcuate plate 62 with the outer periphery thereof conforming to thecross section of the loader 10 in which material is received. That is,an upper edge extending radially from the tube 52 downwardly adjacentthe lower surface of the support 26, an upper outer vertical edgeextending downwardly and inwardly of and along the inner surface of theupper portion 12, a lower outer edge extending downwardly and inwardlyof and along the inner surface of the lower portion 14, a lowermostvertical edge extending downwardly from the bottom of the lower outeredge to upwardly adjacent the lower surface of the gasket 46, and alowermost edge which extends upwardly adjacent and along the upwardlyfacing surface of the valve member 40 between the lower ends of theplate 62 and the lowermost vertical edge.

In order to eliminate migration of the granular materials around thevertically extending outer edge of the partition 60 the outer edge ofthe plate portion 70 thereof is preferably provided with a suitableresilient gasket 71 (as shown in FIG. which engages and slides over theadjacent inner surfaces of the upper and lower portions 12 and 14.

A rigid partition or plate portion 72, of substantially the same form asplate portion 70, is suitably rigidly secured to the outer surface oftube 52 and the inner surface of body portions 12 and 14 to preventmigration of material within the loader around the vertically extendingedges of the partition 72. In particular (see FIG. 2) partition 72extends radially between the connectors a and 20b so that, inconjunction with partition 60 the interior of the loader 10 is dividedinto separate material-receiving portions. Further a suitable gasket 74,such as a vinyl strip, extends along the upper edges of plate portions70 and 72 to minimize the possible wear or abrasion between the filter28 and the upper edges of the plate portions.

The preferred embodiment heretofore described provides a loader in whichtwo different granular materials are obtained from separate sources anddischarged from the loader in a substantially definite or fixed ratio,it being recognized that known adverse characteristics of certaingranular materials can effect the desired operation of the device. Inorder to obtain a particular ratio of materials discharged the nut 69 isreleased (with the cover 30, filter 28 and filter support 24 removed)and the partition 60 moved or swung around tube 52 to any desiredintermediate position between its extreme clockwise and counterclockwisepositions, with reference to FIG. 2. Since connectors 20a and 20bproject within loader 10 the engagement of the plate portion 70 with theconnectors 20a and 20b defines such extreme positions of the partition60, which in the embodiment shown constitutes substantially 3 l 5 oftravel. Thus, the lines 54 and 56 are located between such extremepositions of the partition 60 at any convenient location. With thepartition 60 located as desired the nut 69 is tightened to fixedlylocate the partition 60 and the filter 28 and cover 30 are sequentiallysecured to the body portion 12.

Thereafter, when the hopper 17 is less than full and there is acontrolled demand for material, the motor 38 is energized and the pump36 draws the air from the interior of the loader 10 through the filter28 such that fluidized material from separate sources flows throughlines 18a and 18b and is discharged through connectors 20a and 20b,respectively, into the separate interior portions of the loader 10, thatis, the connectors 20a and 20b discharge separate materials intoseparate portions of the loader 10 since the connectors 20a and 20b areon opposite sides of the partitions 60 and 72. During such loading thevalve 40 is normally closed although under certain conditions loading ofthe loader 10 can be done with the valve 40 open. After the loader 10has been loaded with the valve 40 closed and upon demand of material forthe hopper the line 54 is subsequently opened in a known controlsequence to supply air to the cylinder 42 such that the rod 44 withvalve 40 attached moves downwardly to open the discharge opening of theloader 10 to the hopper. The granular material in each portion of theloader to then flows gravitationally through such discharge opening intothe machine hopper; however, during such gravitational flow the freelyfalling granular material impinges upon the upper conical surface of thevalve 40 and is distributed radially along such surface. Thus the freefall discharge or flow path of the material is interrupted to provide aradially outwardly force component to the falling material whereby thearea over which the material is distributed within the hopper issubstantially greater as compared with such material falling directlyinto the hopper with unimpeded flow. Since material is simultaneouslydischarged from each portion of the loader l0 and such materialsgenerally have the same flow characteristics a mixture of two materialsis discharged into the hopper in a definite ratio dependent upon theratio of the discharge openings for each granular material. After thehopper has received the desired amount of material the air supply fromline 54 is discontinued and air is supplied to line 56 (which previouslyhad no supply) to move the rod 44 with valve 40 attached upwardly withthe conical surface of the valve 40 moving into engagement with thegasket 46 to close the discharge opening of the loader 10. After closingof the discharge open ing the airflow through line 56 is discontinuedand the cylinder 42 is operable thereafter to hold the valve 40 in theclosed position.

It is realized that the sequence of operation described is dependentupon suitable controls; however, such controls are well known in suchart and need not be described. Further although an air cylinder ispreferred since air is used for other purposes with such loaders anytype of selectively operable device to move the valve 40 in the mannerdescribed can be utilized in this invention. Also, in the preferredembodiment the cylinder 42 is located within the loader 10 since loadersare a separate item of commerce; however, if desired the means foractivating the valve 40 can be external of the loader 10 such as bybeing located in the hopper. The details of the cylinder 42 need not beparticularly described as any suitable well-known cylinder for operatingthe valve 40 as described can be employed.

Of particular significance is the fact that although this invention ispreferably employed in loaders for discharging separate materials in afixed ratio such preferred embodiment need not be followed to obtain thebenefits of this invention. Thus, without regard to material ratios theinvention is also greatly desired when a uniform material is dischargedfrom the loader 10. With a single type of granular material a singleinlet 18a and connector 20a are used and no partitions 60 and 72 areprovided. The remainder of the structure is generally as described andshown except different suitable means are employed to support thecylinder 24, such as by extending the feed tube and suspending thecylinder 24 therefrom, and valve 40 provides an improved materialdistribution of such single material in the receiving hopper. Once theinventive concept herein has been disclosed various modifications ofsuch concept will become obvious to those skilled in the art. One suchmodification is a tubular shield 76 for protecting the lower end of therod 44. Another modification is to provide the upper surface of thevalve 40 with a resilient material to provide an alternative seal withthe gasket 46 or to permit eliminating the gasket 46.

FIG. 4 illustrates a particularly desired modification in which thevalve member 40 is replaced with a valve member 40' formed from aresilient material such as rubber or plastics which valve 40' functionsin the same manner as valve 40. Since valve 40 is formed of resilientmaterial a suitable threaded insert 78 is provided to threadedly receivethe lower end of the rod 44. Further the valve 40' has a body mass whichis sufficient to provide a seal for the discharge opening and the loweredges of partitions 60 and 72 during operation in the manner asdescribed herein.

Although the upper conical surface of the valve 40 as described ispreferred, the upper surface of the valve 40 can be of various suitableforms which permit sealing engagement with the discharge opening of theloader l0 and which provide for outward deflection of the freely fallinggranular material. Further the valve 40 is of a peripheral extent withrelation to the size of the receiving hopper to provide a distributionof granular material in the hopper such that accumulations of granularmaterial at the sides of the hopper or voids im- 'mediately below thevalve 40 are avoided. Since the distribution of material within thehopper is dependent to a large degree upon the angle of repose and themass of the granular material being transported the upper surface ofvalve 40 is designed with relation to the material being distributed andi the falling material impinges upon the upper surface of the valve 40and is deflected.

It is also contemplated that the discharge opening of the loader neednot extend horizontally and various orientations of loader dischargeopenings which permit gravitational flow of granular material can beused as long as a valve member, equivalent in function to that of valve40, as described, is employed.

In some installations the size of feedlines 18a and 18b differ in sizedue to different flow characteristics of different materialsthe volumeof material to be handled the distance the material has to flow andother known circumstances.

As described this invention can be used for controlling the discharge ofa single material from a loader or for controlling the discharge of twomaterials in a desired determinable ratio. Other particularmodifications that are contemplated are to obtain a mixing of three,four, five, etc., granular materials in a fixed ratio. The number ofmaterials that can be controlled is limited only by size limitations ofthe loader 10. In such embodiments additional connectors 20 and movablepartitions 60 would have to be provided in an obvious manner.

Although an embodiment has been shown and described which is thepreferred embodiment at this time, it is contemplated that suchembodiment will be modified to utilize a loader 10 in the form of atruncated cone, and to utilize feed tubes 20a and Zllb which areparallel to partition 72 having bevel cut endsextending oppositely awayfrom each other. Such feed tubes are expected to be easier to assembleand may slightly reduce the arcuate travel of partition 72. The gaprealized that other structures applying these same principles areenvisioned and possible. it is therefore respectfully requested that theinvention be interpreted as broadly as possible and limited only by theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: 1. In a loader in which granular material or thelike is accumulated prior to discharge therefrom the improvementcomprising, a vertically extending material chamber having a lowerdischarge opening, a plurality of partition means located within saidchamber to divide said chamber into vertically ex tending chamberportions having the lower ends thereof in open communication with saidopening, said partition means including movable partition meanssupported within said chamber for pivotal movement about a vertical axisof said chamber to vary the volume of said chamber portions adjacentsaid movable partition means, and valve means selectively movable intoengagement with the periphery of said opening and the lowermost portionsof said partition means to close the lower ends of said chamber portionsand out of said engagement to permit material to be discharged from saidchamber portions.

2. A loader as set forth in claim 1 in which said plurality of partitionmeans consists of two partition means.

3. A loader as set forth in claim 1 in which said vertical axis is thecentral axis of said chamber.

4. A loader as set forth in claim 3 in which said movable partitionmeans are pivotal about said central axis.

5. A loader as set forth in claim 3 in which said valve means has aconical upper surface with the central axis thereof coincident with saidcentral axis of said chamber.

6. A leader as set forth in claim 5 in which at least the upper surfaceof said valve means is resilient and deformable.

7. A loader as set forth in claim 1 having a selectively energizableoperating member located within said chamber, and said operating memberhaving a selectively movable portion secured to said valve means formoving said valve means to open and close said opening.

8. A loader as set forth in claim 7 in which said movable portion ofsaid operating member selectively reciprocates along the central axis ofsaid chamber, and said valve means has a central axis coincident withsaid central axis of said chamber.

9. A loader as set forth in claim 7 in which said valve means is of aform and in a location to impart a lateral component of movement ofmaterial upon the discharge thereof from said chamber portions.

10. A loader as set forth in claim 7 in which said movable partitionmeans are releasably secured to said operating member with the pivotaxis thereof being coincident with the central axis of said chamber.

1. In a loader in which granular material or the like is accumulatedprior to discharge therefrom the improvement comprising, a verticallyextending material chamber having a lower discharge opening, a pluralityof partition means located within said chamber to divide said chamberinto vertically extending chamber portions having the lower ends thereofin open communication with said opening, said partition means includingmovable partition means supported within said chamber for pivotalmovement about a vertical axis of said chamber to vary the volume ofsaid chamber portions adjacent said movable partition means, and valvemeans selectively movable into engagement with the periphery of saidopening and the lowermost portions of said partition means to close thelower ends of said chamber portions and out of said engagement to permitmaterial to be discharged from said chamber portions.
 2. A loader as setforth in claim 1 in which said plurality of partition means consists oftwo partition means.
 3. A loader as set forth in claim 1 in which saidvertical axis is the central axis of said chamber.
 4. A loader as setforth in claim 3 in which said movable partition means are pivotal aboutsaid central axis.
 5. A loader as set forth in claim 3 in which saidvalve means has a conical upper surface with the central axis thereofcoincident with said central axis of said chamber.
 6. A loader as setforth in claim 5 in which at leaSt the upper surface of said valve meansis resilient and deformable.
 7. A loader as set forth in claim 1 havinga selectively energizable operating member located within said chamber,and said operating member having a selectively movable portion securedto said valve means for moving said valve means to open and close saidopening.
 8. A loader as set forth in claim 7 in which said movableportion of said operating member selectively reciprocates along thecentral axis of said chamber, and said valve means has a central axiscoincident with said central axis of said chamber.
 9. A loader as setforth in claim 7 in which said valve means is of a form and in alocation to impart a lateral component of movement of material upon thedischarge thereof from said chamber portions.
 10. A loader as set forthin claim 7 in which said movable partition means are releasably securedto said operating member with the pivot axis thereof being coincidentwith the central axis of said chamber.